Hi jb - I am a dinosaur, so I am most definitely not technical enough to understand INSP technologies. However, it is my understanding that OPVW [and maybe Geoworks] is the guardian of WAP and WML. I think INSP is occupying the application layer of making the wireless portals *device independent*. My guess is that INSP nearest peer is AETH. I don't know not getting any specs means INSP is inferior, as you ve implied. After all, most people can't get their hands on advanced nuclear weapon designs. Does it mean it is not one heck of a weapon of mass destruction? More important, if INSP is making portals device independent, it is more grunt work than anything else. It is no small task to make the same webpage combatible to GSM, CDMA, WAP, I-MODE etc [I am just guessing :),] and the barrier to entry is not as easy as Joe Blow comes around and throws up a few HTML pages.
It appears that you prefer to see it is open architecture. Maybe you have a point. After all, proprietary systems have drawn a lot of flanks. OTOH, proprietary systems with enough critical mass will be transformed into de facto standard, much like CSCO IOS in the router world a few yrs back. Ultimately, INSP does have a patent to safeguard any copycat. To qualify, I am rather contemptuous of AMZN one click. However, my read of INSP patent seems to suggest is not more than common sense and thus is likely to be upheld.
In the end, partnership is the key to INSP and thus far, I ve not seen its partners abandoning ship. Why, to these partners, INSP is providing a value added function for them to sell their gear at a minimal cost. Why not? Unless someone else comes along and undercuts INSP, I do not think its partners will back away. OTOH, when INSP infrastructure penetrates enough, it will be hard to unseat w/o costing consumer revolt!
best, Bosco |
